If you’re looking to get the most out of your cannabis plants, then topping them is a great way to go. Keep reading to learn how to top cannabis plants for maximum yield!
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The vegetative stage
The vegetative stage of a cannabis plant’s life cycle is when it’s growing and gaining size. This is the stage where you want to encourage your plant to grow as much as possible so it can produce a large amount of buds. Topping your plants will force them to grow two main stems instead of one, and will also make them bushier. This will give you more buds in the end.
Set up your grow room
Before you start topping your cannabis plants, you need to set up your grow room. You will need to have:
-A grow tent or some other kind of enclosed growing space
-Enough light to cover your grow area (LED lights are a good option)
-A ventilation system to keep the air moving
-A way to control the temperature and humidity in your grow room
-Cannabis nutrients
-Some kind of growing medium (soil, coco coir, etc.)
-Cannabis seeds or clones
Once you have all of this set up, you can start topping your plants.
Choose the right cannabis strain
The first step in topping your cannabis plants is to choose the right strain. The process of topping works best on strains that have a tendency to produce one main cola, with branching happening further down the stem. Look for cannabis strains that are described as “tall and lanky,” “sativa-dominant,” or “stretchy.” These characteristics will give you the best chance for success when topping your plants.
Give your plants the right nutrients
As your plants transition from the vegetative stage to the flowering stage, they will need more phosphorus and potassium. These nutrients are essential for plant growth and development, and they will help your plants produce big, beautiful buds.
You can find phosphorus and potassium in a variety of fertilizers, but we recommend using a product that is specifically designed for cannabis plants. Cannabis-specific fertilizers contain the perfect ratio of nutrients that your plants need to thrive.
Once your plants have started to flower, you should also start feeding them a bit more nitrogen. This nutrient is important for plant growth, and it will help your plants produce strong stems and leaves. However, too much nitrogen can actually prevent your plants from flowering, so be sure to use it sparingly.
As always, you should start with a small amount of fertilizer and gradually increase the amount that you use as your plants grow bigger and stronger. Over-fertilizing can damage your plants, so it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
The flowering stage
The flowering stage is when your cannabis plants produce the buds that you eventually smoke. While it might seem like the flowering stage is all about quantity, the quality of your buds is just as important. In this section, we’ll show you how to top your cannabis plants for maximum yield and quality.
Start the flowering stage
The flowering stage is the last stage of cannabis plant cultivation before harvest. It usually lasts anywhere from 8-12 weeks, but it can be shorter or longer depending on the strain.
During the flowering stage, growers will need to increase the amount of light exposure their plants receive from 12-14 hours per day up to 18 hours per day. This extra light is necessary to encourage the buds to grow larger and more dense.
As the buds grow, they will begin to produce more and more resin. This resin is what contains the THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids that give cannabis its unique effects.
The flowers will continue to grow until they reach full maturity, at which point they will be ready for harvest.
Increase the number of hours of darkness
As your plants begin to flower, you will need to increase the number of hours of darkness they receive each day. This can be done by simply covering them with a black cloth for 12 hours each day.
You will also need to reduce the amount of water and nutrients you give your plants during this stage. Too much water and nutrients can lead to problems with bud development, so it’s important to be careful at this stage.
Give your plants the right nutrients
During the flowering stage, your plants will need a different nutrient mix than they did during the vegetative stage. The best way to figure out what nutrients your plants need is to get a soil test kit and test your soil before you start planting. That way, you’ll know exactly what nutrients are in your soil and what your plants will need.
You can also talk to your local nursery or gardening center about what nutrients they recommend for flowering plants. They should be able to give you some good advice on what to use.
As a general rule of thumb, you’ll want to use a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus during the flowering stage. Phosphorus is essential for healthy flowers and fruits, so it’s important to make sure your plants have enough of it.
You may also want to add some potassium to your fertilizer mix. Potassium is good for overall plant health and helps with disease resistance, so it’s a good idea to use it during the flowering stage.
Finally, you’ll want to make sure you’re using an adequate amount of nitrogen during the flowering stage. Nitrogen is important for leaf growth, so your plants will need it in order to grow healthy leaves and flowers.
The harvesting stage
Topping cannabis plants is a great way to increase your yield. Topping makes the plant bushier and increases the number of main colas. When done correctly, topping can result in a significantly larger harvest. In this article, we’ll show you how to top your cannabis plants for maximum yield.
When to harvest your plants
The harvesting stage is perhaps the most critical in the entire growing process. It’s when you finally get to enjoy the fruits of your labor! But it’s also when a lot can go wrong. Here are some tips on how to top cannabis plants for maximum yield.
First, make sure you know when your plants are ready to harvest. This can be tricky, as there are many factors that affect maturity (such as strain, growing conditions, etc). However, a good rule of thumb is to wait until at least 50-60% of the trichomes on your plant have turned from clear to milky white. You can check this by using a jeweler’s loupe or microscope.
Once you’ve determined that your plants are ready, it’s time to start the harvesting process. Begin by cutting off the large fan leaves with a sharp pair of scissors. These leaves don’t contain much THC and can actually make your final product less potent. Next, cut off the smaller “sugar leaves” which do contain THC. These can be saved and used later for making edibles or other cannabis products.
Finally, cut down the main stalk of each plant, being careful not to damage the buds. Once all of the plants have been harvested, hang them upside down in a dark, cool room with good ventilation for about two weeks. This will allow them to “cure” and improve their flavor and potency.
After curing, your cannabis is now ready to enjoy! Be sure to store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for maximum shelf life.
How to harvest your plants
It is generally recommended that you harvest your Cannabis plants when they are in the late flowering stage. The “late flowering stage” is defined as when approximately 50-75% of the white pistils have turned brown. However, the ideal time to harvest will vary depending on the strain and your own personal preferences.
If you want to maximize the THC content in your buds, it is generally recommended that you harvest when 60-70% of the pistils have turned brown. If you want a more cerebral high, with less body effects, then you would want to harvest earlier, when 50-60% of the pistils have turned brown.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a more relaxed experience, with heavier body effects, then you would want to wait until 70-80% of the pistils have turned brown before harvesting.
Of course, these are just general guidelines, and the best way to figure out when to harvest is by using a magnifying glass to closely examine your buds on a daily basis during the last few weeks of flowering. Pay close attention to the trichomes (the tiny white hairs) on the buds as they will help give you an indication of when the plant is ready to harvest.
When most of the trichomes have turned from clear to milky white, or amber in color, this is generally an indication that the plant is nearing peak maturity and is ready to harvest.
Curing your cannabis
Curing your cannabis is one of the most important steps in the process, and it directly affects the quality of your final product. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most often overlooked steps. Proper curing requires time and patience, but it’s worth the effort.
Curing allows the chlorophyll in the plant to break down, which reduces the harshness of the smoke. It also allows the THC and other cannabinoids to reach their full potential. In short, curing gives you better-tasting, more potent weed.
There are two main methods of curing: wet and dry. Wet curing is faster but dry curing produces better results.
Wet Curing
Wet curing is simple: just put your freshly trimmed buds into jars or containers and seal them tight. Every day for about a week, open the jars for a few minutes to allow fresh air to circulate. After a week, your weed should be cured and ready to smoke.
Dry Curing
Dry curing is a bit more complicated, but it’s worth the effort. Start by spreading out your trimmed buds on a rack or screen in a dark, humid-free room. A closet works well for this purpose. Check on your buds every day, flipping them over so they cure evenly. After about a week, they should be dry to the touch but still pliable. At this point, you can put them into jars or containers for storage.
